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Nursing is more than a profession – it’s a deeply rooted calling to bring healing and care to others. But if you’ve been feeling like the traditional healthcare model isn’t giving you the freedom to fully embrace that calling, you’re not alone. More and more nurses are discovering the power of functional medicine and holistic nursing, and how it can reignite their passion while empowering them to offer true, lasting healing to their patients.
Functional medicine is about addressing the root causes of disease, rather than simply treating symptoms, and integrating the body, mind, and lifestyle into patient care. If you’ve been feeling like it’s time to shift the way you practice nursing, here are the top five signs that you’re ready to start incorporating functional medicine into your nursing career.
1. You’re Frustrated by the “Band-Aid” Approach in Traditional Care
If you’ve ever had that moment where you feel like you’re just treating symptoms, you know the frustration. Patients keep returning with the same problems, and the care you’re giving – while important – doesn’t seem to address the bigger picture. Functional medicine allows you to go deeper and figure out why your patients are experiencing these recurring issues. It’s about solving the puzzle, addressing the root cause, and providing sustainable solutions for long-term health.
Does this sound familiar? If you’re tired of the “Band-Aid” approach and ready to make lasting changes in your patients’ lives, you’re already thinking like a functional nurse. Imagine being part of a healthcare movement that values whole-person care and makes real progress in patient outcomes.
2. You Crave More Time to Focus on Each Patient
We’ve all experienced the limitations of short appointment times and overbooked schedules. How often have you wished you had more than a few minutes with a patient to truly dig into their concerns? Although nurses can share snippets of this healing art in even the briefest of patient encounters, functional medicine thrives on that deeper connection. It’s about building relationships with patients, asking the right questions, and understanding their entire health journey.
If you find yourself wanting more time for each patient to really understand their needs and how their lifestyle, stress, and nutrition are impacting their health, functional nursing is a natural next step for you.
And if you’re wondering how you can start creating a practice that allows for more meaningful patient interaction, I’ll be offering guidance and mentorship on exactly how to build that kind of career in the coming months. Stay tuned for details by subscribing to my newsletter at brigittesager.com – exciting things are coming soon!
3. You Believe in Treating the Whole Person, Not Just the Diagnosis
For those of us who have always seen our patients as people, not just cases or conditions, functional medicine is a breath of fresh air. It’s rooted in the idea that health is multifaceted – physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual. The truth is, no one’s health exists in isolation from the rest of their life, and functional medicine allows nurses to treat the entire person.
If you’re someone who values holistic care and believes that true healing goes beyond managing symptoms, you’re ready to bring functional medicine into your practice. It’s an opportunity to combine your intuition as a nurse with evidence-based practices that address the whole patient.
4. You’re Interested in Root-Cause Solutions for Chronic Disease
Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders are some of the toughest challenges in healthcare today. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “There has to be a better way,” you’re not alone. Functional medicine offers nurses the chance to go beyond managing these conditions and actually investigate their root causes – from diet to inflammation to environmental factors.
Nurses are perfectly positioned to lead in this area because we spend more time with patients and we are trained to look at patients more holistically than many other types of healthcare practitioners. If you’re ready to start offering root-cause solutions to your patients, now is the perfect time to explore functional medicine.
5. You’re Ready to Take Control of Your Nursing Career
Let’s be honest – nursing can feel like a grind, especially in settings where you don’t have much control over your schedule, patient load, or even the care you provide. So many of my RN and NP students tell me their employer restricts the types of education and care they can provide their patients. But what if you could have the freedom to shape your career around your values? Functional medicine gives you that autonomy. It allows nurses to explore alternative models of care, like nurse coaching, starting your own practice, or becoming a consultant.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re ready to make a big change and take control of your career, this might be the right time to explore functional medicine. Whether you want to become an entrepreneur, work independently, or bring functional medicine into your current practice, there are so many ways to create the career you’ve been dreaming of.
So, What’s Next?
If these signs resonate with you, it might be time to explore how functional medicine can transform your nursing practice. Functional medicine isn’t just a trend – it’s a movement. And as nurses, we’re in the perfect position to lead the charge.
I’m working on upcoming offerings that support nurses in their functional nursing practice. If you’re curious, make sure you sign up for my new newsletter at brigittesager.com to be the first to hear about it. If you’re ready to take the next step, whether that’s learning more, starting your own business, or simply incorporating these principles into your current role, I’m here to help. Join my community at brigittesager.com. I'm so excited for what's next in functional nursing! We can lead the change that healthcare so desperately needs!
Let’s take this journey together – because the future of nursing is functional, holistic, and led by YOU.
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